ALCALÁ DE HENARES BABY.

20 degree days.

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:35:15 +0100

i sincerely apologise for the lack of blog posts recently. it’s been a pretty busy couple of months since my last post!

firstly jeorgia headed over here for a weekend of shenanigans. we spent the thursday night in trabi (where else?) and the weekend in madrid. it was great fun and lovely to hang out with the best friend.

then came tom and loukas. short but sweet, they arrived late on the friday and left on the monday. little did they know that i would be joining them as a surprise for tom’s 21st birthday! after the initial hugs and looks of confusion, the three of us headed to manchester all smiles.

since i came back to little old alcalá the weather has been beautiful. for the past 2 weeks or so it’s been reaching at least 20 degrees everyday. university lectures are becoming much more relaxed as the hot weather creeps in. even the teachers seem to have a ‘can’t be arsed to teach’ attitude like us estudiantes have the ‘can’t be arsed to learn’ attitude. don’t blame them to be honest. no air con in the buildings proves a bloody nightmare.

saying that though, there are some mad españoles STILL wearing coats, hats and scarves. quite often we exchange looks of bewilderment seeing as they can’t understand why i’m sweating just as much as i find it shocking they’re complaining of the cold weather.

days are becoming lazy. seeing as i finish uni by one everyday the afternoons are often spent walking aimlessly around the fields or along the river to the back of us. yesterday we ventured to el retiro for a picnic and 45 minutes on the rowing boats. i seem to have almost picked the perfect modules this cuatrimestre. i am rarely given homework, and classes in catalan are often cancelled.

i have some busy ‘findes’ coming up. my parents and younger brother arrive tomorrow to ‘see me’ although i know it’s really to go watch real madrid play malaga on sunday night! however i’m not complaining, can’t wait to see my second game at the santiago bernabeu if i’m quite honest with you.

come next thursday (a week today) i’ll be heading to fuerteventura with two friends. a few days on the beach will suit me quite nicely, and at such cheap prices we just couldn’t say no. josh is heading over here a few days after i come back (hopefully all nice and tan) and then it’s semana santa when i will have a very special visitor.

all in all, it’s been an exciting few months and i intend the fun, the weather and the visitors to continue..i’m off to soak up the last rays of the day.

hasta luego chicos. x

back in sunny spain.

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:23:00 +0100

well it was a fun christmas. got my english fix for a couple of weeks. this mainly consisted of REAL milk. my god it was difficult coming back here to UHT. saw my family and just relaxed a bit soaking up the english way of life.

headed back here on the 8th and dived straight into revision. or atleast tried to dive straight back into revision. trying to revise a topic that you’re not interested in, ie geography, in spanish is rather difficult. but alas i did it and i’ve finished them. so i look ahead to a week of partying before i start back at uni on the 30th.

my dear isabel is leaving us in a week, so we’re lapping up as much fun stuff as we can possibly think of. heading to the basketball on wednesday in madrid and we’re introducing pub golf to spain on thursday. i’m sure there will be some hilarious pictures from that one!

despite isabel leaving, i am excited for the 1st feb as jeorgia is heading over for a long weekend of fun. need to get planning for that one really. but as i said, i can’t wait!

our latest interest is just dance on the wii! the past 2 saturdays we’ve been round at our mates, armed with vodka ready for a just dance competition. absolute great fun. we’ve just ordered singstar aswell so that should be mint. here’s a pic of me and little ollie dancing it out last night:

another thing to mention is the weather since i’ve been back. it’s been absolutely gorgeous. i took this photo whilst walking to grab a coffee with the girls yesterday. i was in such a good mood. headphones in and sunny blue skies is enough to put a smile on anyones face.

last but not least, here’s a picture of isabel whilst playing a game of connect 4 in a bar the other night. good fun.

until next week folks when i’ll have a lot more to report.

hasta luego. x

"am i real?..well that’s debateable…OOH have i had plastic surgery?!"

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:14:16 +0100

“am i real?..well that’s debateable…OOH have i had plastic surgery?!”

- Charlotte Astley as Jesus whilst playing the guess who i am game

how do sheep in mexico say merry christmas?..fleece navidad!

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:07:51 +0100

it’s beginning to look a lot like christmas! it’s been a great few days. been up to lots of festive stuff! went ice skating, christmas markets, christmas shopping and had christmas dinner with lots of christmas games.

AND i passed all my exams that i took last week. proper jolly.

here’s a few pictures to show my christmas spirit:

EXAMS WENT WELL

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:00:09 +0100

thinking i’ve passed C1 level spanish modulee so i’m happy. celebrated with a fancy version of the british classic fish and chips..calamare and sweet potato wedges. and a bottle of bubbly. lushhh.

off iceskating later and a bit of christmas shopping. feeling much more festive now! ..despite having an essay due, presentation and exam all on tuesday.

oh well, home in 8 days! xxxx

not entirely true, i just have no motivation/i’m just...

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:46:00 +0100

not entirely true, i just have no motivation/i’m just really lazy.

Two down, two to go.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:44:27 +0100

I have now done 2 exams. AWOOHOO. but have two left. ABOOHOO. tomorrow is probably the worst..grammar, listening, written and reading. eek.

then Tom comes on friday! but then i have an exam on tuesday and a presentation/essay due :( exam was meant to be on thursday which would have been much better. but hey ho it’s only french grammar.

SEE YAZ.

christmas reindeer.

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:57:48 +0100

christmas reindeer.

WELL

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:48:48 +0100

the ‘magic book’ was a huge disappointment. when we got there (we were a little late, obv) the book was already open and there was a little old lady with a piece of paper in her hands reading.

i atleast thought there would be actors/people dressed up! but nay. so we wandered the ‘christmas market’ (all 5 stalls) for a bit. i said outloud that the jewellery stall across the way was better because they had a turtle ring, to which the owner of the stall replied ‘well ours is better because i can speak english’

a rather awkward moment to say the least.

then we can home and made chorizo and chickpea stew with ahora caigo, atrapa million and uno para ganar on the tv. we do love our game shows here.

the magic book.

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:18:45 +0100

off to see ‘the magic book’ tonight. should be interesting as i have no idea what it entails. pictures to follow.

basically finished essay/presentation. just need to revise now. although it’s hard to revise for something you haven’t understood all semester.

looking forward to going home for christmas! 2 weeks today. just gotta muster the strength to pass these exams first.

adiossssssssss

baby it's cold outside..

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:18:21 +0100

i’ve been crap with this again! just realised it’s been two weeks since i last posted anything, my bad.

in that time i’ve been back to england for my older brother’s engagement party, the christmas lights have finally turned on here in alcalá and i’ve been told i have 4 exams next week on 4 consecutive days.

currently sat with my books not knowing exactly where to start. bring on 16th december please.

Real Madrid vs Zagreb 6 - 2 (me in my new christmas jumper,...

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:29:42 +0100

Real Madrid vs Zagreb

6 - 2

(me in my new christmas jumper, courtesy of El Rastro)

huelgaaaaas

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:33:38 +0100

huelgas..gotta love them!

apparently there’s a student strike at university tomorrow, so hellooo early start to the weekend

love finishing at 8.30pm on a wednesday and not having class until 5pm on the monday!

when it rains in spain, it bloody well pours!

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:37:32 +0100

when it rains in spain, it bloody well pours!

Un milagro de Navidad

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:25:47 +0100

now i know most don’t speak spanish but i wrote this story for some homework and i actually think it’s mint (slightly bigheaded) but contemplating getting it published ;)

no, i’m joking but i thought i’d post it here incase any of you can actually read and understand it! there’s gonna be some errors as i’m not at all perfect in spanish just yet!

so yeah, enjoy..

Un milagro de Navidad

En la pequeña ciudad de Alcalá, todavía no hay una sensación de la Navidad entonces pensé que diría a un cuento de navidad para ayudarte a sentirte festivo..

“..Había un vez, un elfo y un ángel estaban locamente enamorados. Pasaban todo el año abrazados en una caja de navidad en el ático, y estaban contentos. El elfo estaba muy pequeño, llevaba un traje rojo y verde, y un sombrero con una campanilla. Su nombre era Bobby. El ángel era más hermosa que cualquier otra cosa en la caja, su caballo brillaba con luz trémula, aún en la oscuridad. Su vestido blanco estaba inmaculado, y sus alas y halo eran de plato magnifico. Su nombre era Adriana. Los dos estaban muy ansiosos de pasar juntos su primera Navidad.

Un día, Bobby y Adriana acostaban cuando se produjo una explosión. Todas las cosas en la caja habían caído, y el elfo y el ángel se sentían como si el suelo estaba temblando. Los adornos tenían miedo, y el espumillón se había envuelto con Papá Noel en terror. Adriana gritó por su amor, y se tomaban de las manos hasta que el movimiento se detuviera.

“Va a estar bien”-dijo Bobby, “no te preocupes.” Pues, la caja estaba inmóvil.

Sin embargo, el horror no había terminado. La caja abrió y un mano gigante alcanzó en el interior y agarró Adriana, arrastrándola del apretón de Bobby. Adriana no quería abrir sus ojos.

“¿Quien querría poner el ángel en la parte superior del árbol?”-preguntó una voz profunda.

“yo, yo!”-oyó Adriana, y pues pasó a otra persona. De repente, se sentí como si estuviera volando, volando alto en el cielo como un ángel verdadero. Cuando abrió sus ojos, no podía creer lo que veía. Adriana, el ángel de la caja, estaba en la parte superior del árbol de Navidad, mirando por encima de la sala, a cargo de todo. La única cosa que su corazón deseaba, era para su elfo estar al lado de ella. Dio cuenta de que ya no sería posible de pasar Navidad con su amor y estaba triste.

Miró hacia abajo debajo del árbol para encontrar Bobby, y para su suerte, allí estaba con todos los regalos. El trabajo de Bobby fue cuidar a los regalos, al igual que Adriana fue guardar el árbol. El elfo se apartó del árbol de Navidad y llamó a su ángel, “Estoy en camino, Adriana, no vamos a ser aparte en esta Navidad!” y con ello, comenzó a trepar al árbol.

El árbol era grande, y la ruta era difícil, pero Bobby sabía que tenía que estar con su amor en el día de Navidad entonces siguió con todos sus esfuerzos. El elfo reconoció muchas cosas en el camino. Vio el espumillón, el rojo y además el azul. Los adornos eran de todo el árbol y cada vez que les pasó, le daban un saludo amistoso o le cantaban un villancico. Bobby estaba a medio del árbol cuando de pronto, perdió el control. Un cinta de uno de los adornos se había aflojado y se había adjuntado a los pies de Bobby. El elfo empezó a caer. Adriana, estar atrapado en la parte superior del árbol, podía ver todo pero no podía ayudar.

“¡No!”-gritó Adriana.

Fuera de la vista de Adriana, una mano agarró el traje de Bobby, y le tiró en el árbol. La mano pertenecía a Papá Noel, y cuando Bobby se dio cuenta de quién era, él se lo agradeció con un abrazo enorme.

“¿Qué haces pequeño elfo?”-preguntó Papá Noel.

“Tengo que estar con mi ángel a Navidad. Estaba tratando de subir el árbol para llegar a ella en el tiempo”-respondió Bobby.

“¡Qué romántico! Todo el mundo, vamos a ayudar este elfo porque es Navidad.”

Cada decoración en el árbol, tiró, arrastró y empujó Bobby hasta estaba a la parte superior. El reloj dio la medianoche, y fue oficialmente el día de Navidad. Adriana estaba molesta, su elfo no estaba con ella, comenzó a llorar.

“¿Por qué lloras mi amor? ¡Estoy aquí!”

Bobby corrió a Adriana y la envolvió en un abrazo.

“¡Feliz Navidad!”..”

Y esto es todo, un milagro de Navidad.

glad that's over with

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:36:18 +0100

well now i’ve finished that i can actually get back on track for this blog writing business. hope you enjoy the photos. until next time amigos.

..even more photos (the last, i promise!)

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:31:23 +0100

26th oct: netta comes to alcalá, only to be greeted by rain. first major rain since i’ve been here

31st oct: halloween, obv

scary fairy and jilted bride

1st nov: our favourite past time..wine and spanish trivial pursuit in la ruina

10th nov: bit of fun in malasana

yep that’s deffo streetfighter..ryu <3

13th nov: homemade chicken and mushroom pie made from scratch, pastry and all!

..more photos

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:11:01 +0100

11th oct: barcelona baby!

hostel time

just chillin’

pit stop

pretty view, pretty girls

luuuush beach

mojitos on the beach in the sunshine in october

..continued

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:50:28 +0100

1st oct: tourists around madrid town

3rd oct: fiesta de la cerveza

wiener and a litre of beer

4th oct: ‘perdon, podemos tomar un foto en su camion?’

we love grafitti

7th oct: trip to the river

10th oct: la noche mexicana

welcome to the past 11 weeks of my life..

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:27:26 +0100

august 25th: weird giant creepy dolls dancing around alcalá

4th sept: turtle island in atocha train station <3

18th sept: introducing ring of fire to the spaniards

24th sept: miss maria burke turns 24

25th sept: very happy people after finding a club that plays decent music..yes trabi